Obituary for Jimmy Lyn Harris
A memorial service for long-time Athens resident Jimmy Lyn Harris, 85, is scheduled for Friday, August 12, 2022, 2:00 pm at the First Presbyterian Church of Athens. A reception will be held in the Fellowship Hall following the service.
Jim passed away Wednesday, July 20th, in Athens. He was born May 23,1937, in Gorman,Texas, to Leonard Doy (Bucky) Harris and Jeanette Reese. Jim grew up in Eastland and graduated from The University of Texas at Austin in 1959 with a Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering. He was a proud member of The Longhorn Band and Chi Phi Fraternity. After graduation, he married Sue Jones of Athens and began working with Sue’s father, Frank Jones, developing lake properties on Cedar Creek including Cedarview, Clearwater Bay, and Star Harbor. Sue and he later opened Harris Realty and Insurance in Malakoff. Jim was a proud member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary and the Malakoff Rotary.
He was a longtime member of the First Presbyterian Church where he enjoyed singing in the choir and serving on the Board of Elders. He later joined the church staff and faithfully served as treasurer and business manager from 1996 to 2012 and worked as a consultant until 2020. During his tenure, he dedicated himself to many projects including the remodeling of the Women’s Building, the renovation of the Lone Star Gas Building renamed the Fellowship Hall, the conversion of the Foster-Brown Funeral Home into the youth building and overseeing the construction of the columbarium.
Jim had many interests including his passion for Longhorn sports and playing golf. He also had a love for music, singing as a tenor in Men For Him choral group and serving for many years as a volunteer swim coach both in Corsicana and Athens. He also spent hours studying family genealogy. While he enjoyed his hobbies immensely, his greatest joy and love was his family.
Survivors include wife Sue Jones Harris of Athens; three children, Nancy Elizabeth (Beth) Goza of Athens, Steven Lyn Harris of Austin, Rebecca Ann (Becky) Gould and husband Joe of Dallas; nine grandchildren, Megan Goza Tatusko and husband Ryan, Molly Goza, Mays Goza, Joshua Harris, Ross Harris and wife Alicia, Reese Gould, Caroline Gould, Harris Gould, and Cate Gould; six great grandchildren, Ryder Tatusko, Presley Sue Tatusko, Quinn Tatusko, Everett Harris, Asa Harris and Miriam Goza.
Memorial contributions may be made to the First Presbyterian Church, PO Box 927, Athens, TX 75751, or charity of your choice.
Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the Hannigan Smith Funeral Home family.
Jim passed away Wednesday, July 20th, in Athens. He was born May 23,1937, in Gorman,Texas, to Leonard Doy (Bucky) Harris and Jeanette Reese. Jim grew up in Eastland and graduated from The University of Texas at Austin in 1959 with a Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering. He was a proud member of The Longhorn Band and Chi Phi Fraternity. After graduation, he married Sue Jones of Athens and began working with Sue’s father, Frank Jones, developing lake properties on Cedar Creek including Cedarview, Clearwater Bay, and Star Harbor. Sue and he later opened Harris Realty and Insurance in Malakoff. Jim was a proud member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary and the Malakoff Rotary.
He was a longtime member of the First Presbyterian Church where he enjoyed singing in the choir and serving on the Board of Elders. He later joined the church staff and faithfully served as treasurer and business manager from 1996 to 2012 and worked as a consultant until 2020. During his tenure, he dedicated himself to many projects including the remodeling of the Women’s Building, the renovation of the Lone Star Gas Building renamed the Fellowship Hall, the conversion of the Foster-Brown Funeral Home into the youth building and overseeing the construction of the columbarium.
Jim had many interests including his passion for Longhorn sports and playing golf. He also had a love for music, singing as a tenor in Men For Him choral group and serving for many years as a volunteer swim coach both in Corsicana and Athens. He also spent hours studying family genealogy. While he enjoyed his hobbies immensely, his greatest joy and love was his family.
Survivors include wife Sue Jones Harris of Athens; three children, Nancy Elizabeth (Beth) Goza of Athens, Steven Lyn Harris of Austin, Rebecca Ann (Becky) Gould and husband Joe of Dallas; nine grandchildren, Megan Goza Tatusko and husband Ryan, Molly Goza, Mays Goza, Joshua Harris, Ross Harris and wife Alicia, Reese Gould, Caroline Gould, Harris Gould, and Cate Gould; six great grandchildren, Ryder Tatusko, Presley Sue Tatusko, Quinn Tatusko, Everett Harris, Asa Harris and Miriam Goza.
Memorial contributions may be made to the First Presbyterian Church, PO Box 927, Athens, TX 75751, or charity of your choice.
Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the Hannigan Smith Funeral Home family.